Real Ways to Make Money from Home - Page 2

See which opportunities are really legit

By Mary Hunt

1. Customer-service rep. Many companies, such as J. Crew, Express Jet, 1-800-flowers, and even the IRS, outsource customer-service operations to third-party companies who then hire home-based workers or "agents" to take calls and orders. When you call 1-800-flowers, you may be speaking with Rebecca Dooley, a retired police officer and employee of Alpine Access, a major call-center service. When you dialed the number, your call was automatically routed to Rebeccas spare bedroom in Colorado.

Alpine Access currently employs more than 7,500 work-at-home customer-service agents who take in-bound calls (theres no outbound or cold calling) for dozens of companies. "This works perfectly for me because I can set up my hours around my familys busy lifestyle," says Rebecca, who usually works 20 to 32 hours a week, depending on her schedule.

While the typical hourly rate is about $9, Alpine Access agents who work more than 20 hours a week are eligible for benefits plus a 401k program when they have worked for over 1,000 hours. (Some companies consider their staff independent contractors, so they dont provide benefits.) Other companies that hire virtual call agents:

2. Telemarketer. To do this job, you need a pleasant voice and personality, and really thick skinyoure bound to encounter some hostility. Still, its a good way to earn income. Many large companies now outsource their cold-calling campaigns to third parties who hire home-based workers to place the calls. Telemarketers are typically paid by the hour, and they may earn incentives and commission based on performance.

Companies hiring home-based workers include Telereach.com and Intrep.com. Apply on their websites. Keep in mind that a legitimate company will typically not require you to pay a fee to get information or leads, and will explain how to apply, exactly what is required and what to expect.

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